Life Growth

      I would like to take just a minute and share a few thoughts that came to me upon reading a scripture found in the Book of Mormon in Alma 32:38: "But if ye neglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out."

     The thought that came to me was that all life must be taken care of properly to grow to its full potential. This scripture specifically mentions a tree. Many of us plant trees, gardens, flowers, grass, etc. We can certainly enjoy the beauty of plant life and the many fruits they offer us. But we have to do our part to make sure they grow as they should. We can't just plant them and leave them to struggle along on their own. Some might make it with lots of luck, but most, as this scripture points out, will die, never being able to reach their full potential.

     Animal life is much the same. Yes, many animals do exist in the wild and mange to take care of themselves, but as we all know humaity has its influence on them. If their habitat is destroyed they do not survive. And, what about domesticated animals? There are too many to talk about, but let's use dogs for our example. Many people get a dog and care for it just like family and usually those dogs thrive and become an important part of the family and contribute immensely! But what of those people that get a dog and enjoy it for a while and then leave it in the kennel or tied up 24/7?! Is a dog who is neglected, except to be fed and watered, really living up to its full potential? Will it survive in all aspects of its life?

     And that can lead into us. We have to take care of every aspect of our lives in order to reach our full potential and to survive what life throws at us. We, as human beings, have not only our physical side to take care of, but our mental, emotional, social, and spiritual aspects, just to name a few. And we need to take care of each of these aspects of our life in order to be the best we can be. Just like the tree in the scripture could not withstand the trials it faced due to its lack of deep roots, trials can and will destroy us if we neglect our own well-being in each aspect of our personae. But if we work at each one a little bit each day in order to become the best we can be, then we will be able to overcome trials and even thrive as we do so. The choice is ours!!!